Yesterday I travelled alone to the Dashanzi 798 Art District because all my friends were busy with their own activities. So I had to go it alone. It was a rather long journey to the 798 Art District because of the change of buses twice and of course the mandatory getting lost aspect that inevitably happens to me. I left campus at 11.30am but only reached 798 at 1.00pm. It was about the same time as one takes to travel from Ipoh-KL. 798 is a sprawling factory area that has now been converted into art galleries and other shops. Most of the artists' works that were on display were the works of Chinese artists. Some of the works were interesting while others were just downright weird. I am not exactly an avid fan of art but I do appreciate good art (when I think I see one). However, I still do not understand conceptual, modern art that involves blots and splashes of paint on a canvass. Surely anyone can do that? Or am I just being presumptuous? I stopped for lunch around 2.30pm as I was starving. The 798 Art District Area was teeming with foreigners by that time. Therefore, the area is well-stocked with western restaurants and cafes. I ate at one which I felt had reasonably priced food. I ordered a plate of spaghetti carbonara that was surprisingly really good. It cost me RMB 40.00 = RM 20.00. I thought that was reasonable considering Indulgence in Ipoh charges even more for a plate of spaghetti. Of course that lunch has been the most expensive since I arrived in Beijing. It was nice though to take a break from the Chinese food I have been eating. Chinese food here tends to be oily and very salty. Not a nice combination at all.After lunch I walked a bit more around the area before finally getting a wee bit bored. Conceptual, abstract and modern art does have a tendency to do that to me. Any individual who appreciates art should take the time to travel to 798 as it houses many collections. There are certainly many interesting art pieces on display. However, if you are like me then you may have some difficulty grasping the concept or the intention of the painting/sculptures. Funny though that I really enjoyed my trip to the Louvre many years ago. I would rate my visit to the 798 Art District as a 5.5/10.

Before I end my entry, I shall just express my thoughts on the Chinese spitting culture. It really disgusts me and I find it socially repugnant. I do understand that it is a cultural aspect of the Chinese way of life but this does not mean I should accept it wholeheartedly. I understand is not the same as I agree. For instance both men and women spit in China. Even young women spit! While on the bus back to campus, I was standing a few feet away from the bus driver and he was spitting out off his window not just numerous times but MANY times. Funny how he does not consider for a moment that his spit will most probably land on the car beside his window. Nice! I have several questions that I may pose to a Chinese friend one day:

1) Why do you spit?

2) How is it that so much spit is available?

3) Why do you not spit in your handkerchief or tissue paper?

4) How do you spit? E.g. is the guttural sound before spitting compulsory?

5) What is the significance of spitting for the Chinese?

6) When is the appropriate time to spit?

7) Who can you spit at (if any)?

8) Which spit is best for propelling force?

Please feel free to add to my list of questions as I feel that a complete study needs to be done on the spitting culture. *spits spits*